Design Viz showcase
Published Wed 16 Jul 2008
Glowfrog Studios and Aedas Imaging bring brilliant projects to life
Glowfrog Studios
Project: Istanbul Development, Turkey
With a ten year reputation to draw against and with an international clientele, London-based Glowfrog Studios works on projects around the world. Recent work has seen the studio produce a two minute HD film in Istanbul for one of Turkey’s leading architects. The large multi-use development incorporates offices, retail, a hotel and leisure facilities.
“We were given around five weeks to organise, produce and deliver the film,” explains Nigel Hunt, Glowfrog’s creative director. “This included the production and direction of location aerial filming in Istanbul, modelling the buildings in 3D from the architects CAD drawings and post production.
All 3D modelling was carried out using Autodesk 3ds Max 9 64-bit and rendered using Vray1.5. Glowfrog Studios uses Boxx workstations with 4-8 GB of RAM and 26-inch monitors. “Working to tight deadlines on visualisation films in foreign countries is very challenging”, adds Hunt. “Communication is paramount at every step of the production”
Project: St Germain, France
Glowfrog Studios was commissioned to produce a series of images for this new high end French resort, St Germain, located outside Montpellier.
“We worked closely with the marketing consultants to locate the perfect view points to help sell the vision for the development,” explains Nigel Hunt, Glowfrog’s creative director. “Then starting from perspective sketches we worked up basic models to obtain client sign-off of views. On agreement, we began using the architects supplied AutoCAD drawing information as reference to build the 3D model using Autodesk 3ds Max 2008, 64-bit and Vray1.5. We then styled the shots with a client selection of furniture that we modelled to high detail in 3D.
“Whilst this was taking place, our photographer flew to Montpellier to shoot the location and capture the exact views required at high resolution,” adds Hunt. “The final 3D images were brought into Adobe Photoshop for further retouching work, matching location photography and grading,”
Aedas Imaging
Project: Abaya Seffulina, Almaty, Kazakstan
Aedas Imaging, the in-house imaging unit at architectural practice Aedas, was set up seven years ago in the UK to provide a visualisation service for its architectural teams. This close relationship means the practice can use visualisation as an integral part of the design process as well as producing top quality final renders and animations for planning applications and competitions.
Abaya Seifullina in the Republic of Kazakstan is a landmark scheme for the international practice. The unique design is based on a jewel box concept, with key ‘crystal’ features punctuating the elevations visible to the streetscape and accommodating the various uses within the building on a series of platforms and atria within an atrium.
To aid in the development of this project Aedas Imaging produced several 3ds Max models which it derived from the architect’s DWG data. However, when it came to the final render, these working models were discarded and a new model created from the final plans as accuracy was of paramount importance. “Because the final model was for a competition it was vital that we matched the design as closely as possible so we were taking every single detail that we could from the DWG,” explains Danny Austin, Aedas Imaging. “And as it went on to be part of an animation it was important that it was as clean as possible to avoid any problems when it came to rendering it in our render farm.”
Project: Waveney Campus, Suffolk
The Waveney Campus development in Suffolk will create a landmark administrative and scientific complex for 1,000 staff. The £52.7m development project will meet agreed sustainability targets, providing approximately 15,500m² of accommodation, comprising offices, laboratories and aquarium supported by an energy centre and on-site stores.
Aedas was appointed as architect for the project and the practice’s imaging department won the commission to provide visualisations through competitive tender at RIBA stage D. These were specifically commissioned to assist in the pre-planning consultation process with the wider community. Due to close liaison with the Design Team, Aedas imaging was able to offer much more than visualisations of the finished product, assisting in communicating the composition and tectonics of the design proposals to the client. “From the architect’s AutoCAD plans we took out all the unnecessary information, such as construction lines, to make it easier to read but also optimise it for 3ds Max,” explains Danny Austin, Aedas Imaging. “We then created initial renders in a number of different materials, which enabled the client to make informed decisions on the design. Finally we created some detailed high quality renders around which the public consultation presentation material and website were built. Ultimately these will support the detailed planning application.”
Aedas Imaging uses 3ds Max 64-bit and Vray for rendering. In terms of hardware the company leases all of its equipment from Dell so it’s bang up to date. “We have six production workstations, four dedicated dual Quad Core render blades for rendering animations and stills,” adds Danny. “Then we also have a further 80 ‘office’ machines, which we get working hard through Backburner when the architects have gone home. At 6pm the air con goes off and at 6.05 the heat is unbearable!”
